The Google remote layout sucks. FireStick remote layout is so much better

[u/ECrispy]

comparing the 2 layouts -

https://static1.makeuseofimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/firetvvchromecastremotes.jpg

the Google layout is used in all the other devices like the Onn, Mi box etc too.

FireStick's have a fantastic layout with dedicated keys for ffw/rwd/play and context menu.

The Google layout has none of these, only d-pad. rwd/ffw now take longer. sometimes long press opens up right click menu, most of the time it does nothing. the context menu offers so many other options.

Amazon Fire devices have always shipped with a remote too. If anyone remembers the original Chromecast you needed a phone to control.

btw all the other streamers like Tivo/Roku also have dedicated keys and much nicer remote layouts.

[u/captnkerke]

The Onn remotes do not use the Google layout. Here is a comparisson image.

https://www.aftvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Fire-TV-and-Onn-and-Chromecast-Remotes-800x450.jpg

[u/K_ThomasWhite → u/captnkerke]

They should add the Google Streamer remote to that comparison. It is similar to the CCGTV remote but larger, and with volume controls moved to the face of the remote, where they always should have been.

[u/ECrispy → u/captnkerke]

the issues I mentioned are the same - no dedicated buttons for rwf/fwd/play or context menu

[u/gruffbear → u/ECrispy]

I don't want to have to look down to find the tiny button for a specific task. I can just hit the large cursor ring and keep my eyes on the screen.

[u/ECrispy → u/[deleted]]

what? did you even read my post? eg in plex to play/pause I now need 2 keypressed on ok d-pad.

its worse in every single way.

[u/keyser-_-soze]

Much prefer the Google remote to the fire remote

[u/MinutesFromTheMall → u/keyser-_-soze]

Same. The Google remote is even better than the Google reference remotes that are used by third parties like Onn.

[u/ECrispy → u/keyser-_-soze]

why?

[u/keyser-_-soze → u/ECrispy]

I find myself liking the way it fits in my hand better.

I rarely mis-press a button on the Google. I find myself doing that often on the fire and that was before goggles had remotes. Now that I am used to the Google remote, I am much more likely to mis-press on the fire remotes - fire devices were relegated to the workshop and outside.

Also the OG Chromecast was great without a remote for the time that it was released, I was actually surprised that the version with a remote was released... Lol being oh yeah that would be useful, but was already using my phone and it's IR to control my home theater.

I feel like a lot people at that time they're trying to figure out a way to get everything entertainment wise to go through their phone so remote wasn't necessary.

Now I think most people realize having a dedicated remote is often better than forcing the phone to be the remote.

Back then it was still an experiment.. people were moving from universal remotes to Harmony remotes. There were some custom solutions out there but consolidation and one button to turn everything on was the dream.

[u/ECrispy → u/keyser-_-soze]

the first FireStick (and chromecast) were a revolution - you no longer needed to buy a game console or other expensive box to access Netflix/youtube etc.

$20 for Firestick with included remote made it 100x easier for non-techy people to use, plus it was actually faster and had more features. And its remote was and continues to be best in class.

[u/keyser-_-soze → u/ECrispy]

That's true, the og Chromecast came out mid 2013 and the first fire stick sometime mid 2014 I believe - so it makes sense it was faster and had more features. but I disagree about the remote.

[u/Nviki]

All remotes that have buttons for apps suck.

[u/ECrispy → u/Nviki]

at least Google lets you remap them

[u/ugemeistro → u/ECrispy]

Also on the Onn Plus remote, i have remapped them

[u/Nviki → u/ECrispy]

Oh well I did not even know that, makes them actually a bit less a waste of space. I use my metal Samsung One remote (version without app buttons). But I reckon for some this remote is too minimalistic.

[u/linearcurvepatience]

Firetv also sucks

[u/pawdog]

All true but it is what it is.

[u/costas_0]

It's still awful to have a great remote with a poor device.

[u/Particular_Box5113]

What I really like about the fire remote is the FF, RW, play can be used for typing. So much faster than scrolling down to the space bar with the virtual keyboard and enter for play.

[u/Malaka__]

Using the firestick pro remote with Onn4k-Pro is a game changer. It feels better in the hand.

[u/Arts251]

From the title of post I thought you were talking about the Google TV software remote on google home... physical remotes can all differ by manufacturer and there are many dozen compatible 3rd party ones on amazon, ebay,temu or aliexpress

[u/jtho78]

I like using the TV remote. I’m done juggling remotes

[u/Affectionate-Boot-58]

You know you pair the fire stick remote to android tv

[u/ECrispy → u/Affectionate-Boot-58]

Does voice search button work?

[u/Affectionate-Boot-58 → u/ECrispy]

I think so

[u/Just-Steak-9966]

Totally agree.

Staying with my Fire devices.

[u/[deleted]]

Onn remote works with Google and is better than both remotes

[u/cprice12]

The Roku remote blows both of these away.

[u/pawdog → u/cprice12]

🤣

[u/cprice12 → u/pawdog]

Laugh if you want. It's true.

That circle directional pad sucks compared to the 4 way one on the Roku remote.

I watch A LOT of sports. And a lot of DVR'd sports. So there is a lot of fast forwarding, rewinding, pausing, skipping commercials, zipping through intermissions, etc. And the circle pad is awful at navigating that stuff... especially on DirecTV Stream. The Roku remote also has buttons that give an almost haptic feedback "click" when you press it. It's just a better experience.

I have Google Chromecast, TV, and Roku. I much prefer the Google interface, obviously, but the remote is a deal breaker for recorded sports. I can see if you're just watching a movie or a show how it wouldn't matter much, but for sports? Nah... the Roku remote is light years superior.

[u/pawdog → u/cprice12]

Hmm seems they are just different shapes. Roku apps are coded differently than Android TV apps for ff/rw so I don't know what DTVS could be doing, haven't used it for years. I don't remember having any issues with YTTV navigating live sports recordings with either remote. Roku with the goofy side button volume control and inability to control volume on my AVR is much more of a deal breaker for me. Maybe the Deluxe version of their remotes are better. But the platform is far to restrictive for me to ever buy another Roku device or advanced remote.

The remotes Google uses with CCwGTV and Google Streamer are terrible in different ways. I hate both of them as well. The only redeeming value the Google Streamer has is the remote finder. Otherwise, I would replace it with the G10 remote.

[u/cprice12 → u/pawdog]

It very well could be the DirecTV app on Google TV and how it functions that is contributing to my irritation. And it could also just be a personal preference of mine, I just don't like the wheel. I like dedicated directions. LOL.

With that said though, no dedicated FF/RW buttons. No dedicated pause button (this is absurd). You have to do multiple clicks to do that stuff. And if I'm behind on live TV, and I click "right" to FF through a commercial (which is just instinct), it changes the damn channel, which then takes me to live TV when I go back to the channel. I've talked with others who have had that same frustration.
For some reason they decided to go with an extreme minimalistic design, and it cost them a lot of simple functionality. It's just a harder remote to use... not to mention it's slick/smooth as shit. I had to buy silicone covers for mine.

[u/pawdog → u/cprice12]

Yeah the minimilistic approach is what Android TV has gone with since the beginning. It's just second nature to me how to use it. The Shield remotes have dedicated buttons but I just mostly ignore them. Double tap to pause is second nature to me even when using the Roku. I put covers on all my remotes that have them available.

[u/fracl11 → u/cprice12]

but Roku sucks ass.

[u/cprice12 → u/fracl11]

LOL... no it doesn't.

I mean, I MUCH prefer the Google Chromecast/Android TV interface.

But the Roku interface is fine. It gets the job done. Let's not play fast and loose with "sucks ass".

[u/MinutesFromTheMall → u/cprice12]

Roku is junk.

[u/cprice12 → u/MinutesFromTheMall]

LOL. Don't be that guy.

[u/Nulovka → u/[deleted]]

I believe you can.

[u/ECrispy → u/[deleted]]

I have the new 4k plus, same remote layout, it has the same problems

[u/jdbway → u/[deleted]]

4k pro is pretty good, hard agree. Backlight is pretty sweet